Paper-bag machine.



W. A. LORENZ.

PATENTBD JULY 18,l 1905.. f

PAPER' BAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION I ILED NOV. 9. 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l PATBNTED JULY 18, 1905.

W. A. LORENZ.

PAPER BAG MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 9, 190s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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W. A. LORENZ. PAPER BAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLBD'xov. 9, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

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- W. A. LORENZ.

PAPER. BAG MACHINE.v APPLIOATIQN Hum nov. a, 190s.

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PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

W. A. LORENZ.

PAPER BAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Fig. 12

1v1/wem, to z' Lo'aw/m NO 795046' Patented July 18, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNION PAPER BAG MACHINE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-BAG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,046, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed November 9, 1903. Serial No. 180,325.

T CLN/107mm# 77W?! @0W/007%: embody the invention in a machine which Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. LORENZ, a operates in conjunction with mechanism for o citizen of the United States, and a resident of folding the bottoms of paper bags from bel- Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State lows-sided blanks, thus embodying in a single 5 of Connecticut, have invented certain new and organization an automatic machine for rapidly useful Improvements in Paper-Bag Machines, manufacturing bellows-sided paper bags havofwhichthefollowing isafull, clear, andeXact ing these funnel-mouth folds. When thus 55 specification. employed in such an organization, the machine The object of this invention is to provide of my present invention may perform its 1o automatic mechanism for formingin the open operations before the bottom of the bag has or mouth end of the side tucks of bellowsbeen formed, or it may, as herein shown, sided paper bags or paper-bag blanks certain receive the bags after the bottom forming 6o reversed folds which are shown and described mechanism has completed the bottom folds,

, in Letters Patent of the United States to H. M. or both operations may be performed simul- I 5 Farnsworth, No. 355,010, dated December 28, taneously.

1886, so that when the bag is opened for use Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan View of these particular folds will turn outwardly ina machine embodying my present inventionV 65 stead of inwardly, and thus present a funnelwith part of the top mechanism removed. shaped mouth for the more ready reception Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine in secof thc contents of the bag. These folds also tion, taken on the line2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is assist in maintaining the mouth of the bag in a side view in section, taken partly on the line an open condition. For this purpose the 3 3 of Fig. l and partly on the line 3u 3 of 7o upper or mouth ends of the inwardly-tucked Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of bellows plies of the blank are turned outthe machine, partly in section, taken along wardly, the innermost bellows-fold lines being the lines l t and 4 4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an reversed and swung outwardly to positions end view of the top suction-box, taken in secapproximately ninety degrees from their tion on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a 75 former positions. The machine of the present plan View, and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are side views, invention produces these folds by {irstturning partly in section, showing portions of the over one of the iiat side walls of the bag or folding devices of the machine ,in successive blank around a transversely-disposed defining stages of operation upon the mouth of a paper edge, thereby opening the mouth ends of the bag or blank. Fig. 10 isaside view showing 80 tucked bellows plies into flattened triangular a modified arrangement of portions of the plies. Then ablade, herein designated as'the folding devices. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are 3 5 reversing-blade, is brought against the blank perspective views of the mouth end of a belacross the centers of the triangular plies into lows-sided bag-blank in successive stages of approximate coincidence with what were forthe folding operation. Fig. 11 shows the 85 merly the inner bellows-fold lines, upon which blank before it has been folded. Fig. 12 lines each of these triangles is then doubled shows an intermediate position of the fold,

upon itself by the turning back of the doubledand Fig. 13 shows the completed funnel folds. over side wall, the reversing-blade serving to The organization of mechanism shown and prevent the said fold-line from returning to described herein is adapted to be attached to its original position. many of the well-known forms of paper-bag This invention may be embodied in an inmachines, the feed-rolls 18 and 19 being con- 45 dependent machine by providing it with a sidered as equivalents or substitutes for the suitable driving mechanism and by providing delivery-rolls of such paper-bag machines. means for feeding the blanks or bags to it in The mechanism herein shown is driven by a proper sequence and register; but I prefer to train of gears which may .receive theirmotion from the pulley 17 or from the gear 25 by meshing that gear with a gear on the paperbag machine to which it is connected. The feed-rolls 18 and 19 are mounted upon the shafts 2O and 21, journaled in bearings 22 22, and are provided with gears 24 and 25, respectively, which mesh together. These shafts and bearings are supported in the uprights 26 and 27, secured upon a base 28. The feed-roll 18 is pressed toward the roll 19 by means of springs 23 against the bearings 22. Motion is transmitted, by means of the gear 25, to the intermediate gear 29, which runsupon the stud 30 and transmits motion to the gear 31, attached to the shaft 32, running in bearings 33 and 34, attached tothe uprights 26 and 27, respectively. The rotating blank-support 35 is Vapproximately cylindrical, having portions cut away in its periphery, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and it is carried by the shaft 32.

Between the feed-rolls 18 and 19 and the blank-support 35 is the guide-plate 36, which is curved upward at its inner end to an approximately tangential relation to the surface of the blank-support and is attached to the bar 37, supported by the uprights 26 and 27.

Above the' blank-support is the suction-box 38, which serves to sustain the upper wall of the blank during the folding operation. It is supported by the brackets 39, secured to the uprights 26 and 27, and the lower or suction wall 40 follows the curvature of the cylindrical surface of the blank-support, with an annular space between them for the passage of the blank, the said wall 40 being grooved throughout its length at 41, Fig. 5, to clear the grippers 51. This wall is also provided with perfor-ations 42, communicating with the interior of the box. Connection with suitable exhausting apparatus is made by the pipe 43, which may be provided with valve devices for cutting off connection with the box or for allowing communicating therewith at suitable intervals during the passage of the blank through the machine like the devices shown and described in my Patent No. 591,175 of October 5, 1897.

The blank-support 35 carries one or more sets of gripping and folding devices to which suitable movements are imparted as the blanksupport rotates. The machine herein shown is provided with two sets of these devices; but I will describe but one of these sets, it being understood that the construction and mode of operation of the second set is similarA thereto, and these devices alternate in their operation upon the succeeding blanks.

The gripping device consists of a gripper 51, which may be bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 1, and is attached to a shaft 52, provided with an arm 53, carrying a roller or projection which is held against the fixed cam 54 by a spring 55. The cam 54 is supported by the bearing 33 and may be separate or may be integral with another cam, as shown in the drawings.

Each of the two sets or sections of the blanksupport is also provided with a folding suction-box 59, which rotates with the blank-support and operates to turn over one of the side A walls of the blank. This suction-box59is of a substantially triangular cross-section in its central portion and has oppositely-disposed trunnions 60journaled in the brackets 61, appurtenant to the blank-support 35, the common axis of the trunnions 60 being substantially in alinement with the defining edge 62, formed by the meeting of the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls of the suctionbox 59 and substantially coincident with the circle of rotation of the supporting-surface of the blank-support. This defining edge serves to locate and define the transverse line 99 of the blank, over which the lower ply thereof is folded to the form shown in Fig. 12. Each of the blank-holding sections of the blanksupport may also be provided with a projecting ledge 44, extending to or toward the defining edge 62 of the suction-box. This ledge when employed serves to support the corresponding portion of the blank, and when it extends to the defining edge 62 of the suctionbox its edge 45 supplements the action of the suction-box in defining the fold-line 99 of the blank; but this ledge may be dispensed with, as shown by the modified form of blank-support 71 in Fig. 10, in which case the defining of the transverse fold-line 99 is performed entirely by the defining edge 72 of the suctionbox 73. In this modification also the upper wall of the suction-box is preferably curved in an arc substantially coinciding with the circle of the blank-support 71, so as to take the place of the projecting ledge 44 of the blanksupport 35 in supporting the blank while the suction-box is in the position shown in Fig. 10.

The wall of the suction-box 59 is provided with perforations 63, communicating with its interior, and connection with the exhaust apparatus is made through the trunnions 60, which are made hollow and meet the pipes 64 at their ends. The pipes 64 are bent so as to clear the intervening parts and pass through the hub 47 of the blank-support into the shaft 32, which is made hollow and communicates,

by means of the pipe 48, with the exhaust apparatus. These suction-pipes may also be provided with controlling-valve devices like those of my aforesaid PatentNo. 591, 175. Secured to one of the projections 60 of the suction-box 59 is the sector pinion 65, which serves to rotate the box 59 at the proper moment by means of the sector-gear 66, pivotally supported on the blank-support 35 by the pin 68 and operated by the projection or roll IIS IZO

69, controlled by the cam-groove 70 on the face of the fixed cam 54. The pressure over the holes 63 of the suction-box 59 causes the srs lower ply of the blank to adhere to the wall 58 of the box, and the motion of the box turns the rearward end of that lower ply around the defining edge 62, the upper ply being meanwhile sustained by the upper suction-box 38, and thus prevented from folding over with the lower ply.

Each blank-holding section of the blanksupport is also provided with a reversingblade 74, mounted on an arm 75, which is pivoted on a stud 76 appurtenant to the blanksupport. The arm is provided with a stud or roll 77, running in the cani-groove 78 of the fixed cam 79. The defining edge of the blade 74 is parallel with the defining edge 62 and is mounted to move toward and from that defining edge during the rotation of theblanksupport, cooperating with the suction-boxes 38 and 39 to complete thefunnel-mouth folds.

Just before the front end of the blank, which is held by the gripper 51, reaches the plate 89 the gripper is released to allow the blank to be delivered from the blank-support. At the same time the blank is held to the support by the bifurcated pressing-sector 82, fixed to the rotating shaft 83, mounted in bearings 84 in the uprights 26 and 27, each .bearing being pressed toward the blank-support 35 by a spring 85. Rotary motion is imparted to the sector 82 by the gear 86 meshing into the large gear 31. The completed blank then passes over the plate 89 to the delivery-rolls 90 and 91, which may be provided with tapes 92 to carry the blanks away from the machine.

The consecutive operation of this machine is as follows: The blank Bis delivered to the rolls 18 and 19 in approximately the condition shown in Fig. 11 and passes over the plate 36, being defiected upwardly thereby, and thus directed tangentially to the surface of the blank-support 35. The leading end of the blank is gripped to the blank support by means of the gripper 51. When the rear or mouth end of the blank arrives opposite the upper suction-box 38, the air-pressure holds the upper wall of the blank in contact with the under surface 40 of the suction-box. The lower or folding' suction-box 59 is then turned on the trunnions 60, the axes of which are approximately in alinement with the defining edge 62, thus turning downwardly and forwardl y the lower wall of the blank which adheres to it around the edge 62, and thereby stretching vopen the mouth end of the blank, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 12. Then the reversing-blade 74 is moved forward toward the defining edge 62, as shown in Fig. 8, against the fold-lines 99 of the blank. While the blade 74 remains in this position, the suctionbox 59 is turned back toward the blade 74, thereby returning the lower wall of the blank toits first position, as shown in Fig. 13, and

doubling the triangular side folds upon themselves upon the fold-line 99 around the edge of the blade 74, thus reversing the folds upon that line and leaving it in substantial coincidence and alinement with the axes of the trunnions 60, and thereby forming on each side of the blank the two V-shaped funnel folds 98. The gripper 51 releases the forward end of the blank just before reaching` the plate 89, which plate guides the blank between the rolls 90 and 91, while the pressing-sectors 82 feed the blank forward. When the mouth end of the blank approaches the plate 89, the funnel-defining blade 7 4 is gradually retracted, and the funnel folds are held together by the pressure of the sectors 82, being finally compressed by passing between the rolls 9() and 91 and the tapes 92 to approximately the condition shown in Fig. 13, in which View, however, the blank is opened to a slight extent, so as to represent more clearly the character of the funnel folds produced by this operation. y

The terms uppen lower, rightf left, forward, backward, and similar terms denoting relative positions are herein used in their relative and not their absolute sense, inasmuch as many of the parts may be reversed, inverted, or transposed in many ways that will be obvious to the mechanic or designer. The mechanism herein shown and described may also be modified as to dimensions, amplitude of movement, and in many other obvious ways to suit different sizes of bags or to suit various conditions of service.

l claim as my invention- 1. Means for forming the described funnel folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bagblanks, comprising a blank-support, a swinging suction-box having a defining edge, means for swinging the box to open the mouth end of the blank to form the preliminary triangular folds and to subsequently close the mouth end to form the funnel folds, and a reversing-blade mounted in the blank-support to coperate in doubling the said triangular folds to form the said funnel folds.

2. Means for forming the described funnel folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sidedv bagblanks, comprising a rotatable blank-support, a swinging suction-box havingadefining edge, means for swinging the box to fold the rearward end of the lower ply in a forward direction to form the preliminary triangular folds and to subsequently fold it back to form the funnel folds, and a movable reversing-blade mounted to cooperate in doubling the said triangular folds to form the said funnel folds.

3. The combination of a rotatable blank-support, a suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support and provided with a perforated suction-surfaee for holding and folding back a ply of the blank, and means for oscillating the suction-box while the blank-support is rotating.

4. The combination, in devices for forming the described triangular folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a rotata- IOO ble blank-support, and a suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support on an axis transverse to the travel of the blank and provided with a fold-defining edge substantially in line with the axis of oscillation of the suction-box.

5. The combination, in devices for forming the described triangular folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a rotatable blank-support and a suction-box having a defining' edge and mounted for oscillation on the blank-support, with its axis and defining edge substantially coincident with the circle of rotation of the blank-supporting surface of the blank-support.

6. The combination, in devices for forming the described triangular folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a substantially cylindrical blank-support having a recess in its periphery, and a suction-box mounted in the said recess for oscillation on an axis substantially coincident with the circle of the cylindrical surface of the blanksupport.

7. The combination, in devices for forming the described triangular folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a substantially cylindrical blank-support having a recess in -its periphery, and a suction-box having a defining edge, and mounted for oscillation in the said recess, with its axis and defining edge substantially coincident with the circle of the cylindrical surface of the blanksupport.

8. The combination of a rotatable blanksupport, a suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support and provided with a perforated suction-surface for holding and folding back a ply of the blank, and means for oscillating the suction-box while the blanksupport is rotating, the blank-support being provided with a supporting-ledge projecting over the suction-box toward the defining edge thereof.

9. The combination of a rotatable blanksupport, a suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support and provided with a perforated suction-surface for holding and folding back a ply of the blank, and means for oscillating the suction-box while the blanksupport is rotating, the blank-support being provided with a projecting ledge extending substantially to the defining edge of the suctim-box and forming a supplemental defining e ge.

l0. The combination of a rotatable blanksupport, a suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support, and provided with a perforated suction-surface for holding and foldand means for doubling the said triangular folds to form the said funnel folds.

ll, The combination, in devices for forming the described funnel folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a rotatable blank-support, a suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support and provided with aperforated suction-surface for holding and folding back a ply of the blank to form flattened triangular folds, means for oscillating the suction-box while the blank-support is rotating, and means for doubling the said triangular folds to vform the said funnel folds, the blank-support being provided with a supporting-ledge projecting over the suction-box toward the defining edge thereof.

12. The combination, in devices for forming the described funnel folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a rotatable blank-support, a suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support and provided with a perforated suction-.surface for holding and folding back a ply of the `blank to form flattened triangular folds, means for oscillating the suction-box while the blank-support is rotating, and means for doubling the said triangular folds to form the said funnel folds, the blank-support being provided with a projecting ledge extending substantially to the defining edge of the suction -box, and forming a supplemental defining edge.

13. The combination, in devices for forming the described triangular folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a rotatable blank-support, a stationary suction-box for sustaining the upper ply of the blank, a swinging' suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support, and provided with a perforated suction-surface for holding and folding back the lower ply of the blank, and means for oscillating the swinging suctionbox while the blank-support is rotating.

14. The combination, in devices for forming the described funnel folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a rotatable blank-support,a stationary suction-box for sustaining the upper ply of the blank, a swinging suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support, and provided with a perforated suction-surface for holding and folding back the lower ply of the blank to form flattened triangular folds, means for oscillating the suction-box while the blank-support is rotating, and means for doubling the Saidl triangular folds to form the said funnel folds.

15. The combination, in devices for forming the described funnel folds in the mouth ends of bellows-sided bag-blanks, of a rotatable .blank-support, a stationary suction-box for sustaining the upper ply of the blank, a swinging suction-box mounted for oscillation on the blank-support, and provided with a perforated suction-surface for holding and folding back a ply of the blank to form flattened triangular folds, means for oscillating the suctionboX while the blank-support is rotating, and a movable reversing-blade mounted on the blank-support to coperate with the swing- IOO ing suction-box in doubling the said triangular folds to forni the said funnel folds.

16. The combination, in means for forming the described funnel folds in a paper-bag blank, of a rotatable blank-support, means for gripping one end of the blank to the support, a suction-box for sustaining the upper ply of the blank, a swinging suction-box mounted for oscillation in the blank-support and provided with a perforated suction-surface for holding and folding back the lower ply of the blank, means Afor oscillating the swinging suction-box while the blank-support is rotating, and a reversing-blade having a defining edge substantially parallel to the aXis of rotation of the swinging suction-box for reversing the fold-line 99, and holding the Said fold-line in substantial coincidence with the said axis.

17. The combination. in means for forming the described funnel folds in a paper-bag blank, of a rotatable blank-support, means for gripping one end of the blank to the support,

a suction-box for sustaining the upper ply'of the blank, a swinging suction-box mounted for oscillation in the blank-support and provided with a perforated suction-surface for WILLIAM A. LORENZ.

Witnesses:

JAS. W. GREEN, H. MALLNER. 

